OCA Homeless and Street people Workshop Invitation

[Frank Schuitemaker]

Dear Friends of OBS

 

Homeless people: a topic that is always present and varied.  OCA’s next meeting on April 26^th will be devoted to this subject and we invite you to participate.

WORKSHOP INVITATION

 

The issue of homelessness and street people is a worldwide phenomenon.  It is an extremely complex issue and there are certainly no easy solutions.

 

There are increasing numbers of folk who find themselves without accommodation, without employment, without family support structures – some of these folk suffer addiction problems, some are mentally ill, some just want to be free of rules and strictures, and some have just fallen on hard times.

 

How do communities respond to this?  Is it viable to wish/move these people away?  Should we be providing more for them?  Are they linked with crime in the area?  Are they a danger to our community?  How will they survive the oncoming winter?

 

The Observatory Civic Association invites you to participate in a workshop on the issues around the growing numbers of street/homeless people in our area.

 

The aims of the workshop are:

 

·         To define the terminology used when discussing people who are living on the streets or who have no fixed abode in our area;

·         To find out what the different role players are doing/providing for such people in this area;

·         To understand and discuss some of the challenges that everyone is facing in this area of work;

·         To seek common ground on a more unified approach so that mixed messages are not sent to those living on the street / or so that we do not enable them further in their additions or lifestyle.

 

This is a huge agenda but it is important to make a start at least.  There will be a panel – Sam Vos of U-Turn; Kenneth Roman, Social Development Manager with OBSID; Richard Bolland and Greg Andrews of the Street People’s Forum- all of whom have worked in this area – who will start off the discussion.  The two metro police officers who work in the Observatory precinct will also be attending the workshop.  We hope that it will be a meaningful time with full participation, and we hope that action points will be identified by the end.

 

The workshop will be held on Tuesday 26^th April 2016, at the Observatory Community Centre, First Floor, workshop starts at 18h00 and ends at 19h30. 

 

Please could you RSVP by email so we have an idea of numbers attending.

 

Carolyn Neville

Chairperson

Observatory Civic Association

Email: car...@neville.za.net

[Melanie Hoffman]

​Thank you for this invitation. It sounded good. The last point, however, seems to indicate a clear sentiment, which I personally don't feel like discussing or debating as it looks as if minds have been made up. 

​

Your point:

  "To seek common ground on a more unified approach so that mixed messages are not sent to those living on the street / or so that we do not enable them further in their additions or lifestyle."

Common ground - sounds ok

more unified approach - too many people have and are entitled to different mindsets and opinions on this subject. 

sending mixed messages - there will always be mixed messages as people feel very differently about this, some for humanitarian reasons, some for religious reasons and some for other reasons. 

sent to those living on the street / or so that we do not enable them further in their addi(c?)tions or lifestyle. - Here, the bias is clear. I will continue giving charity which consists of cooked food (we take it to them), old blankets and if we are in a position, small amounts of money.

 It is not my business to question those who have chosen this lifestyle. Meaning the ones who have chosen it. Some haven't. I know that. 

I am not going to support anyone chasing these people away from public areas against their will. - Has happened in past, see latest documentary on a local homeless woman, and according to various other reports.

I am strictly against Obsid removing their little possessions, most of them donated. - again, according to people living on street.

Addicts need rehabs and /or halfway houses. Mentally ill people need assisted living facilities. People who fell on hard times need social security. This country does not offer adequate facilities or security to the ill, poor or addicts. So the problem will always be there.

 Rather feed them, clothe them and be human. One can talk to almost all of them, if they infringe on your property. They will leave. No reason to take their belongings or "chase" them. They still deserve to be treated with dignity. 

This is my personal opinion.

Melanie Hoffman

 

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Melanie Hoffman

Tel: +27-722161416 (Mobile)

[Carolyn Neville]

Dear Melanie

Thank you for your email and the points you have made.

It is our intention to use the workshop as a way of finding out what different approaches are being taken with regards the issues around homeless/street people.  As you are probably aware, not everyone in Obs sees these folk from a positive perspective.  I am hoping that we can find some positive steps that can be taken to assist such people in our neighbourhood. 

I am delighted that you feel so strongly about the issue, and thank you for what you are doing to make these folks lives a little easier.  You are quite right in pointing out a particular view point though - I believe that both the OCA and OBSID are not in favour of money being handed out to such folk, but would rather support a more integrated approach in providing services and support.  I have had several very angry and upset residents inform me about street people purchasing R180 bottles of whiskey, and then finding these same people passed out on the pavement outside their front gates and having to explain this to their children.  Of course, if money is given, it is up to the recipient to do what they wish with the money.

I do hope that you will come along and discuss and debate with us.  It is a very complex issue and we will probably never find common ground as you have pointed out in your email, but I really do believe it is an important conversation that we should be having in Obs especially as winter is fast approaching.  

Our panel are very experienced in this field of work and as you will note I have specifically invited the Metro Officers along too as they are tasked with moving such folk on (and experience great difficulty doing so because as they have said in a meeting “it is not illegal to be homeless, and if we move them on, where do they go….. we (being the metro officers) are people with hearts too”.

Looking forward to meeting you on Tuesday.

Best wishes

Carolyn Neville